Full day · 4:30 am to 5:00 pm
4:30 amHotel pickup.
Breakfast in Mollepata and drive to the trailhead.
Hour-and-a-half hike to Humantay Lake. Free time and optional ceremony.
Descent and buffet lunch.
Back in Cusco around 5:00 pm.
BreakfastLunch
Mountains and lakes1 day
Humantay Lake
Turquoise water below a glacier, at 4,200 m
- Duration1 day
- DifficultyModerate
- GroupUp to 16
- Max. altitude4,200 m
- PickupAt your hotel
About the tour
An hour and a half of steep uphill to a glacial lake near Salkantay. Breakfast and lunch included. From US$35.
Humantay is a meltwater lake at 4,200 metres, with its namesake glacier above and Salkantay (6,271 m) close by. The turquoise colour comes from minerals carried down by the ice.
What to expect
- Pickup at 4:30 am and breakfast in Mollepata.
- An hour and a half uphill, short but steep, from Soraypampa to the shore.
- Free time at the lake and, if you like, an Andean offering ceremony to Pachamama.
- Descent, buffet lunch and back in Cusco around 5:00 pm.
How to prepare
- Acclimatise for at least two days in Cusco first.
- There are no horses on this route: the whole climb is on foot, so go slowly and rest when you need to.
- Trekking poles help a lot on the way down; they can be rented.
Highlights
- Glacial lake at 4,200 m
- View of Salkantay
- Optional Andean ceremony
- Breakfast and buffet lunch
Itinerary
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup (Cusco historic centre)
- Return transport
- Breakfast
- Buffet lunch
- Professional guide
Not included
- Lake entrance (foreigners S/20)
- Trekking pole rental (S/15)
Frequently asked questions
About an hour and a half up and a little less down. The slope is steep, but the stretch is short.
Not on this route. If the climb worries you, consider Rainbow Mountain, where horses can be hired.
No. It's a sacred place for local communities and the water is close to freezing.
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From
USD 35 per person